Can-opener.



PATENTED AUG. 2

W. H. STEPHENSON.

CAN OPENER.

APPLIOATION FILED 131-10. 24, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

vihwmca UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE- \VILLIAM II. STEPHENSON, OF N EWV VIENNA, OII'IO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO EUGENE ED'WARDS, OF NElV VIENNA, OHIO.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,292, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed December 24, 1903. Serial No. 186,476. (No model.)

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAAI H. STEPHEN- sox, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Vienna, in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention aims to provide a simple and inexpensive form of can-opener device of the type comprising a handle, a penetrating prong, and a cutter slidably mounted upon the handle and movable toward and from the penetrating prong. so as to adapt the article for use upon different-sized cans.

In its special structure the device consists of a handle and prong made from a single piece of spring-wire bent in the proper form, the cutter also being made from a piece of wire bent to form a carrier which is slidably mounted upon the handle, as before mentioned.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

\Yhile the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modilication, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. sis a detail perspective view of the cutter and carrier therefor.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The handle or body 1 of the device is constructed of a single length of spring-wire of a gage suitable to give the proper strength and rigidity necessary. The wire is bent about centrally to form the spaced members 1 and 1" of the handle, said members being disposed in approximately paralleling relation. The member-1 of the handle has its end downwardly bent and forwardly extended to form the shank 2 and the prong 3. The opposite member 1 has its corresponding end looped about the shank 2 and is very clearly shown at 4, the looped portion a very securely fastening the ends of the members 1 and 1" together. The manner of bending the wire in the formation of the handle 1 and the prong 3 permits a certain amount of spring movement of the members 1 and 1" toward and from each other, the bent portion of the handle exerting a spring effect to normally hold the members 1 and 1"as far apart as the limit of their movement permits. A carrier 5 is slidably mounted upon the handle, said carrier being provided with engaging members by which it is secured and properly guided in its movement upon the handle. The engaging members aforesaid consist of a guide-loop 6 and a hook 7. The cutter-8 is extended from the hook portion 7 of the carrier. the parts 5, 6, '7, and 8 being all formed of a single piece of stout wire or the like. The loop 6 positively prevents displacement of the carrier, guiding same in cooperation with the book 7. The hook 7 positively engages the member 1 of the handle because of the spring tendency of the members 1 and 1" to move apart. The binding action of the hook in its movement with the member I effectually positions same at a desired adjustment.

\Vhen it becomes necessary to adjust the position of the cutter 8 to adapt the device for use upon a certain size of can, it is but necessary to slightly press the handle members 1 and 1", which may be readily done by the hand which grasps the implement, and the carrier 5 may be moved to the desired position. The pressure having been removed from the handle members 1 and I, said members spring apart, and the hook 7 in its engagement with the member 1 prevents the sliding or slipping of the cutter 8.

The handle and cutter devices are very simply constructed, and it will be apparent that the device as contemplated in the practical embodiment of the invention may be very cheaply manufactured, this being an essential feature of advantage, as will be appreciated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a can-opener, the combination with a handle comprising spring-spaced members, a prong extended from the handle, a carrier slidable upon the handle, said carrier consisting of asingle length of wire having one end bent to form a guide-loop receiving one of the spaced members of the handle, the other end of the wire being bent to form a hook in spring engagement with the other spaced member of the handle, the extremity of the hook being extending and provided with a cutter.

2. In a can-opener, the combination with a handle comprising a single length of springwire bent centrally thereof to provide spaced spring members, one end of the said wire being downwardly and forwardly bent to form a shank and prong, the other end of said=wire being looped about the shank ofthe prong, a carrier mounted upon the handle and composed of a single piece of wire having one end bent to form a guide-loop receiving one of the spaced members of the handle, the other end of the carrier-wire being bent to form a hook engaging the other spaced member of the handle, the extremity of the hook being provided with a cutter integrally formed therewith.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. STEPHENSON. 

